The Ethical and Spiritual Development Panel and the Government Panel of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, together with the Real Time Club, are sponsoring a Debate on the topical motion.

At this year’s Good Money Week conference we will provide you with an opportunity to consider how your faith, values and finances interact. Learn how the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relate to positive decisions about our money and how we can help ensure a sustainable world now and in the future.

On 17th May 2018 a joint conference will be held by Christian Values in Education, the Scottish Catholic Education Service and Scripture Union Scotland. The main focus of the conference will be on the educational value and practical use of Introducing the God Question, the version of the series specially devised for schools and universities.

On Saturday 10th March 2018, churches in Skye and Lochalsh held their first What A Wonder-Full World event. Rev Rory MacLeod (Church of Scotland) and Rev Roddie Rankin (Free Church of Scotland) were among the local leaders who, along with the Grasping the Nettle team, organised the highly successful evening. The idea was born in August 2017 subsequent to a “Grasping the Nettle with The God Question" day conference in Kyleakin.

A Week of Prayer for the work of the Society, Religion and Technology Project. The SRT Project values your prayers for our work at any time, but we ask that you particularly remember us during the second week in June.

"To me, this inner world of the cell (or more accurately, of the nucleus within the cell), which biology allows us to glimpse, is an illustration of the life of faith." Dr Murdo Macdonald
Read Murdo's Guest Post for Science and Belief on their website here

The Churchof Scotland's Climate Change Office, Adrian Shaw shares his impressions of the UN Climate Conference (CoP23) which took place in Bonn in Germany in November 2017. This is the twenty third such conference; an annual event, bringing together governments, NGOs and others to negotiate a collective response to climate change.

On Thursday 12 October 2017, the Church of Scotland and partners Christian Aid Scotland, Oikocredit UK and Ireland, Eco-Congregation Scotland and ECCR met in St Andrew’s and St Georges West Church in Edinburgh for this year’s Good Money Week Conference. It was a positive and inspiring day! Read the full conference report.

Founder of the Savings Bank Movement: A new publication written by Prof. Charles W Munn
A man of vision and compassion, Duncan believed fundamentally in the dignity of ordinary working people. From its beginnings in a small cottage on the shores of the Solway, his community savings bank went on to influence and inspire generations all over the world.

Earlier in the year, the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness was launched at the Houses of Parliament. Issues around loneliness are now appearing in the media on an almost weekly basis, such is the concern by government, charities and wider society.
Linking Lives UK is working hard to address these issues by supporting churches to set up befriending schemes in their local communities. These schemes enable volunteers to visit those affected by loneliness in their own homes, normally once a week for around one hour. These visits can be a real lifeline and are an opportunity to provide good quality time for someone else which is often mutually beneficial.

Although we in our culture sometimes feel uncomfortable talking about it, death is a normal part of life. After a bereavement, sometimes society pressures us to “move on”. Taking the time to remember people who are gone can often be very helpful, as part of the process of grieving.
Many churches hold an annual event, when people are invited to remember their Absent Friends. To Absent Friends is a people’s festival of storytelling and remembrance taking place across Scotland from 1-7 November. Groups are being invited to take part with the help of a small grants scheme.

This year the Church of Scotland are partnering with Christian Aid Scotland, Eco Congregation Scotland and Oikocredit to host our annual conference to mark Good Money Week.
'What have faith and money got to do with Climate Change?' will take place is St Andrew's and St George's West Church, Edinburgh on Thursday 12 October. Places are free but limiited: Book online at Eventbrite www.fmcc17.eventbrite.co.uk

Hear from SRT Project Associate and former Committee member Dr Robin Green about his visit to a “multiverse” as part a weekend of scientific public lectures, entitled “Cosmic Collisions” earlier this summer.

Churches Mutual, the credit union for ordained and lay ministers, church charity employees and trustees, is celebrating reaching £3million pounds in assets.
Since its launch in 2015, CMCU has processed 1100 applications from individuals and a further 43 from corporate bodies such as churches and church organisations. Since July 2016 it has had two extensions to its common bond to offer savings and loans to eligible members of the United Reformed Church and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales and in Scotland.

This year’s International Credit Union Day, which takes place on 19 October 2017, will be themed “Dreams Thrive Here.”
Credit union professionals have decided the theme via an online poll. International Credit Union Day takes place every year on the third Thursday in October. The day aims to raise awareness of the contributions credit unions make to society.

Minister of South Leith Parish Church Rev Ian May is known in his parish as the man who took on the payday lenders.
Using his expertise from a former life as a banker, Mr May helped establish what he describes as a “social justice mission” that provides the community with an affordable alternative to the payday lenders, the Castle Community Bank. Read the full story on the Church of Scotland website

In the run up to the council election, SCPO and the Joint Public issues Team (JPIT) have produced “Explore” – a resource to help congregations engage with these elections and to explore some of the issues within their communities.

Your bank could help combat climate change
Find out more about the Christian Aid campaign encouraging is to email our banks and tell them how important it is that they scale up their investment in renewables, to help fight climate change.
Visit the Christin Aid website to find out more and access resources to help you get involved.

Would you like to take part in a survey as part of a PhD research on how worship might be involved in the relationship between religion and people's attitudes, and the mechanisms by which this might occur?

ABCUL has reported on the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Credit Unions meeting on 7 February. At the meeting the CPG including Karen Hunter, SRT Project Coordinator, heard the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities Angela Constance MSP’s vision for supporting the Credit Union movement. You can read the full story on the ABCUL website.

Borders, Benefits and Biomedicine: Surveillance and Social Justice
Join the SRT Committee's own Iain Mitchell QC, Chairman of the CCBE Working Party and Dr Eric Stoddart, Associate Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics at the University of St Andrew's along with Prof Bill Buchanan, Cyber Academy at Edinburgh Napier University to explore issues of surveillance and social justice on 4 April, Summerhall, Edinburgh.

Contactless - a blessing or a curse?
Visit the Churches Mutual Credit Union (CMCU) website to read the latest blog post from CEO Hilary Sams, looking at the benefits and pitfalls of this new technology, and the different methods available for to help us keep track of our expenditure.

A former Moderator has officially become the Church of Scotland’s first ever digital minister. Very Rev Albert Bogle will use his ground breaking new role to create an online Kirk congregation, made up of people who may never set foot in a “real world” church.

On 9 December 2016 Dr Murdo Macdonald, (SRT Project Policy Officer) attended the ABCUL Scotland Conference in Glasgow.
Along with Karen Armstrong, (Scottish Government) and Bobby Gould, (CUNA Mutual), Murdo presented at one of the workshops: Creating a Fairer Scotland – What role for credit unions? Murdo talked about the Church’s work over the last few years to promote membership and connections with credit unions within its congregations.

The Digital Participation Charter Fund, supported by the Scottish Government is now open for applications.There is a particular focus on organisations working to tackle poverty, social isolation and other forms of inequality to embed basic digital skill development work into their day-to-day activity with service users.
The deadline for applications is 12 January 2017. Funds awarded range between £500 and £10,000.
For further information and to apply please see - http://digital.scvo.org.uk/participation/apply-for-funding/
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to fill out the form!

Digitally Remastered: A biblical guide to reclaiming your virtual self unpacks the practical and spiritual significance of our technological choices.
The rise and proliferation of communications technologies is arguably the most significant development of the 21st century. The web, social networking and smartphones have pervaded every area of life and every aspect of society. The web is a democratising technology, redistributing power away from the gatekeepers who previously controlled access to information and towards ordinary citizens, much as the printing press gave the laity the ability to read the Bible in their own language.

On 23 November the Church of Scotland highlighted the importance of organ donation, and the life- enhancing, life- giving effects that organ donation has on many families.
At an open meeting in Biggar organised by the Presbytery of Lanark, Dr Murdo Macdonald, SRT Project Policy Officer spoke on organ donation, while a local family talked about their experience of raising a child who has had to undergo an organ transplant.

Community Shares Scotland is holding a free Training Event in Dundee to inform about the community shares funding model.
Find out the benifits to your own community or the communities you support in a work capacity; meet with other community groups who are interested in setting up a share offer or learn from those who have had success already.

The theme of this year's International Credit Union Day (ICU Day) is "The Authentic Difference"— celebrating what makes credit unions truly unique. ICU Day is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October and will take place this year on 20 Oct 2016. The Church of Scotland continues to support and promote credit nions and encourages you and your Church to engage with your local credit union.

MAKE YOUR MONEY COUNT- Thursday 3 November 2016
This year, the Church of Scotland is partnering with EthicalFutures, Triodos Bank, Rathbone Greenbank Investments and Shared Interest to host an event that brings together some of the UK's key ethical investment organisations to mark Good Money Week. The event will explore key issues around how we invest our money and give practical ideas to make your money count.

World Suicide Prevention Day is on Saturday 10 September 2016
In Scotland, it is a sad fact that suicide is one of the major causes of death among young people, particularly among young men. A young death is always one of the most devastating events for a family or a community, and when that death results from suicide the tragedy is all the harder to bear.

Children's Hearings Scotland (CHS) will be recruiting for over 500 new volunteers to join its community as Children's Panel members. Applications to join the Children’s Panel are open now and until 25 September 2016.
Click here for more information and to apply.

With one in six people in Scotland missing out on the benefits of being online the Let’s Get Online campaign is set to provide vital information through a nationwide roadshow. The Let’s Get Online team will visit towns and cities across Scotland from 31 May until 22 July, offering free, informal, one-to-one, drop-in sessions on how to get online.

On Wednesday 15 June, the SRT Project will be exhibiting at the International Association of Bioethics 13th World Congress at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (see www.iab2016.com). The conference aims to help us build a bridge between the questions and answers of how bioethics can contribute to some of the most important issues of our time.
It will be a great oppotunity for us to showcase the Church of Scotland's work in this area and make contact with experts in the bioethics field.

New technology has brought an explosion of information and services to our fingertips. The click of a mouse button and we can book holidays, GP appointments, pay bills, order shopping, check bank accounts and contact friends and family. But what if you are blind or partially sighted? How do you take part in the online world if you struggle to see a screen?

Sport plays a big part in many people’s lives. With another exciting summer of sport ahead, are you looking for ways in which your church can make the most of the great opportunities these major sporting events provide to reach people in your community? If so, we have just the thing for you!

A former national convener of the Guild and a minister who has been instrumental in the recent initiative to appoint a farming minister within the Church of Scotland have spoken out to encourage churches and church members to re- connect with farmers in their local areas.
On Open Farm Sunday (5th June) farmers across Britain are encouraged to open their gates to tell their food and farming stories.

SeeMe have an exciting opportunity for our See Me supporters to attend community activism training over 8 days in May/June.
SeeMe are running ACTIVATE in partnership with Glasgow University. It will be delivered by a Glasgow University tutor at the SAMH Offices in Glasgow. It will run over 8 Fridays, 6th May - 24th June 10.30am - 3.30pm. Attendees would need to be able to commit to the full 8 days.

A dedicated member of Claremont Parish Church, East Kilbride, along with her team of young volunteers, has been recognised for her role as the 'lynchpin' in an elderly befriending scheme which has also been praised in both the Scottish and Westminster parliaments.

Lanarkshire Credit Union (LCU), formerly Blantyre and South Lanarkshire Credit Union has opened a new outreach service in Carluke. The new Outreach service will be held in Carluke’s Kirkton Church every Monday from 10am to 12 noon, giving residents of Carluke a regular opportunity for face to face contact with the credit union.

“The God Particle”, a romantic comedy with a hint of sci-fi, will be touring the UK from late March to early June, including a number of performances in Churches of Scotland (17th- 23rd Feb)
Written by James Cary, award-winning co-writer of BBC1’s Miranda, BBC3’s Bluestone 42 and Radio 4’s Another Case of Milton Jones, The God particle enjoyed a sell- out run at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is described as being “deep, smart, and very funny.”

The Edinburgh International Science Festival runs from 26 March to 10 April 2016. The Church of Scotland SRT Project is delighted to participate in the festival again this year and our event 'Can we address Fuel Poverty and respond to Climate Change? A Church of Scotland perspective' takes place on 6 April.

Would you like to know where all the heat goes in your church and halls? Do you enjoy fiddling about with circuit boards and other electronic stuff? Then how about coming along to a couple of events to learn how to put your soldering iron to good use in your church?

Is your church interested in tackling the thorny issue of the relationship between science and faith? Perhaps you might consider using the God Question DVD and discussion pack. Read what Dr Alan Fraser, from the Black Isle, had to say about his experience of using it in his church.

Many hands have carried the climate baton this year. Rev Trevor Jamison, Environmental Chaplain, Eco Congregation Scotland, tells us how far the baton has traveled and the prayer he sends with it, in this article on the Church of Scotland website.

The application stage for the 2016 See Me Community Innovation Fund is now open. The Fund is open to all groups, organisations or individuals who have a great idea for a project to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination.

Would you like to organise a Faraday Regional Day Course in your local area? The Faraday Institute are running a series of regional courses on Science and Religion, discussing some of the historical and current issues in the relationship between science and faith, and consider the ethical, theological and philosophical implications of contemporary science.

This week is an opportunity for us take a look at how we handle our finances and to ask whether we could do better. Our conference in Edinburgh two weeks ago took a look at some of the ways we can ensure personal and congregational decisions benefit everyone in our communities.

One of the world's top green investment experts is addressing a free conference on developing an ethical approach to money in Edinburgh next week. Tessa Tennant, who is regarded as one of the pioneers in the field of sustainable investment, is the keynote speaker at the 'Good Money Week' conference on Saturday 3rd October.
She'll be joined by journalist and author Iona Bain, who created the Young Money Blog which is now one of the UK's top websites covering personal finance for young people. Iona will be talking about the need to improve young people's financial awareness and skills.
The Edinburgh event is sponsored by EthicalFutures and Triodos Bank. It's being chaired by Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, who is convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland. Other speakers include Kelly McIntyre from Community Shares Scotland and Eco-Congregation Scotland's Adrian Shaw, who will look at divestment from fossil fuels.
Also attending are John Preston, who will talk about The Good Money App, and Sabrina Groschel from the Ecumenical Council on Corporate Responsibility who will discuss Ethical Money Churches.
You are invited to attend the conference, where free places are limited to those who have registered beforehand.
Read more and watch Tessa and Iona talk about the conference at the Church of Scotland website

The Church of Scotland is taking a long-term approach to tackling inequality and injustice. Over the next ten years, it will bring about change in some of the most critical issues facing our nation and planet. It wants the people of Scotland to help to set these priorities. Find out how can have your say.

The Good Money App equips Christians with reflections, prayers and a whole host of useful tools to enable us to be better stewards of our money wherever you are - in the supermarket, on holiday, grappling with a decision on a loan or thinking about your savings.

How can your church recruit new parishioners online and how can you keep your congregation engaged? Priestly Brook has the answer to these questions and more with his 5 top technology tips for churches.

'The Strange Power of Light', organised on behalf of Glasgow Presbytery as part of the Glasgow Science Festival, took place on June 5th in Wellington Church in Glasgow. Find out more about how the event went and get ideas on how your presbytery or congregation could get involved with your local science festival.

Created for use by church and men’s groups as well as leaders of organisations, the GAME OF LIFE Pack contains all the resources for missional activities around the Rugby World Cup that you and your group will need.

Has your funeral director signed the Fair Funerals pledge? Down to Earth has been set up to help people on low incomes arrange a funeral they can afford. The Fair Funerals pledge was launched on the 9 June as part of the Fair Funerals campaign to tackle the underlying causes of funeral poverty.

The Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt Rev Dr Angus Morrison, today encouraged churches to support the second annual week of prayer for the work of the Society, Religion and Technology (SRT) project.

Surveillance is not only about spying. It includes, for example, gathering data in schools, at supermarket check-outs, and our own postings of our exercise regime on social media. Dr Eric Stoddart of the School of Divinity at the University in St Andrews is currently recruiting participants for a focus group he will run in June in the Ediburgh area. Are you interested in taking part?

Riding Lights Theatre Company is looking for cathedrals, churches and other venues to host their new show for autumn, BAKED ALASKA.
Touring to churches across the UK from September 17th to November 22nd, BAKED ALASKA brings stories of the wild and unpredictable effects of climate change from the four corners of the earth. The tour will be in Scotland Tuesday November 17 - Sunday November 22nd.

Want to get on top of your finances?
The City of Edinburgh Methodist Church runs a weekly session on Tuesdays from 1pm - 3pm where people can get information and help about saving and borrowing through a credit union. It is a partnership with an established Edinburgh-based credit union, Capital Credit Union and the sessions are open to all.

God in the Lab: How Science Enhances Faith
Experiencing scientific research first hand brings a sense of awe that enhances faith.
This new book by Dr Ruth Bancewicz (Monarch, Jan 2015), a graduate of Edinburgh University, explains how creativity, imagination, beauty, wonder and awe are essential in the life of both a scientist and a Christian. Includes interviews with six working scientists.

Penicuik North Kirk has joined other denominations in the area to take a stand against debt and poverty by joining forces with a local credit union to bring fair and affordable savings, mortgages and loans to church members and the wider community.

Are there ways in which your church is using the internet to help those in your local community? At the recent Church and Society Conference in Motherwell, we heard about one such project, the Strutherhill Work and IT Community Help (SWITCH) project.

The podcast includes audio recordings of the James Gregory lectures and Scientists in Congregations Scotland conference papers from people including N.T. Wright, John Webster, Keith Ward, John Wyatt, John Polkinghorne, Denis Alexander, Pauline Rudd, among many others.

Applications are invited for a full-time, three-year PhD studentship to undertake a research project entitled: The place of ‘spirituality’ in street children’s lived experiences: understanding the implications of religious and other spiritual beliefs and practices for growing up on the streets in Africa.
The starting date for the PhD is autumn 2014 and the deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 15th August.